Green hydrogen electrolysis is approximately 75% efficient in energy conversion, but when that electricity (work) is converted to hydrogen (heat) and then back to electricity via a fuel cell (~50% efficient), and accounting for compression and transportation losses, the round-trip efficiency from electricity to hydrogen to electricity in a fuel cell vehicle is approximately 30%, meaning 70% of input energy is wasted.
causalpending
Speaker
David CebonEvidence Quote
“the round trip from electricity to hydrogen and back to electricity again, which is what you have to do if you want to run in a fuel cell vehicle, that is at best about 30% efficient. You've lost 70% of the energy”
Source
How Clean is Hydrogen, Actually? With Prof. David Cebon | The PLUS Podcast— Everything Electric TECHCreated: 8/10/2026, 10:48:15 PM
My Notes
Loading notes...